Vacuum cleaner accessory

Abstract

The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner accessory to be attached to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose. In a first operative configuration, the accessory is designed to facilitate vacuuming of spaces that are accessible from any given direction. An upper tube member (20) is operatively connected at its upper end (22) to a vacuum cleaner hose (10), and at its lower end (23) to an elongate lower tube member (30). The elongate lower tube member (30) has a remote end (31) that defines a contoured intake opening (33) through which air, dust, water, and/or debris are suctioned. In a second operative configuration, the accessory is designed primarily to access floor level horizontally accessible spaces. A transverse sweeper member 60, which includes a downwardly facing transverse intake opening 66, is operatively connected to the remote end (31) of the lower tube member (30). A handle member (40), which is releasably secured to the upper tube member (20), extends approximately perpendicularly relative to the substantially horizontal surface (90) to be vacuumed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vacuum cleaner accessory, of a type that attached to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose, comprising: (a) an elongate lower tube member having first and second ends, wherein said first end defines an intake opening, said intake opening of said lower tube member being cut at an angle of between 30° and 70° relative to said lower tube member's longitudinal axis, and said intake opening has a concave profile;   (b) an upper tube member having lower and upper ends, wherein said lower end of said second end of said lower tube member, and said upper end is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner hose, wherein said lower tube member and said upper tube member define a first operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed for cleaning spaces that are accessible from a desired direction;   (c) a handle member releasably secured at one end to said upper tube member and extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said lower tube member, wherein said handle member has a distal end for gripping by hand; and   (d) a sweeper member releasably secured to and in fluid communication with said first end of said lower tube member, wherein said sweeper member includes a housing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposite side edges, defining a downwardly facing intake opening therebetween, wherein said lower tube member, said upper tube member, said handle member, and said sweeper member define a second operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed primarily for cleaning floor level, horizontally accessible spaces.   
     
     
       2. A vacuum cleaner accessory, of a type that attaches to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose, comprising: (a) an elongate lower tube member having first and second ends, wherein said first end defines an intake opening, said intake opening of said lower tube member being cut at an angle between 30° and 70° relative to said lower tube member's longitudinal axis, and said intake opening has an S-shaped profile;   (b) an upper tube member having lower and upper ends, wherein said lower end of said second end of said lower tube member, and said upper end is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner hose, wherein said lower tube member and said upper tube member define a first operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed for cleaning spaces that are accessible from a desired location;   (c) a handle member releasably secured at one end to said upper tube member and extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said lower tube member, wherein said handle member has a distal end for gripping by hand; and   (d) a sweeper member releasably secured to and in fluid communication with said first end of said lower tube member, wherein said sweeper member includes a housing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposite side edges, defining a downwardly facing intake opening therebetween, wherein said lower tube member, said upper tube member, said handle member, and said sweeper member define a second operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed primarily for cleaning floor level, horizontally accessible spaces.   
     
     
       3. A vacuum cleaner accessory according to claim 2, wherein said S-shaped profile includes downwardly curved teeth extending from a top surface of said lower tube member and defining gaps therebetween. 
     
     
       4. A vacuum cleaner accessory, of a type that attaches to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose, comprising: (a) an elongate lower tube member having first and second ends, wherein said first end defines an intake opening;   (b) an upper tube member having lower and upper ends, wherein said lower end of said second end of said lower tube member, and said upper end is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner hose, wherein said lower tube member and said upper tube member define a first operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed for cleaning spaces that are accessible from a desired direction;   (c) a handle member releasably secured at one end to said upper tube member and extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said lower tube member, wherein said handle member has a distal end for gripping by hand; and   (d) a sweeper member releasably secured to and in fluid communication with said first end of said lower tube member, wherein said sweeper member includes a housing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposite side edges, defining a downwardly facing intake opening therebetween, said leading and trailing edges of said sweeper member being tapered to have fine tips to scrape debris from a substantially flat surface, wherein said lower tube member, said upper tube member, said handle member, and said sweeper member define a second operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed primarily for cleaning floor level, horizontally accessible spaces.   
     
     
       5. A vacuum cleaner accessory, of a type that attaches to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose, comprising: (a) an elongate lower tube member having first and second ends, wherein said first end defines an intake opening;   (b) an upper tube member having lower and upper ends, wherein said lower end of said second end of said lower tube member, and said upper end is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner hose, wherein said lower tube member and said upper tube member define a first operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed for cleaning spaces that are accessible from a desired direction, said upper tube member including first and second posts, and said one end of said handle member including first and second sleeve members, and said first and second sleeve members slidably engage said first and second posts, respectively, to releasably secure said handle member to said upper tube member;   (c) a handle member releasably secured at one end to said upper tube member and extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said lower tube member, wherein said handle member has a distal end for gripping by hand; and   (d) a sweeper member releasably secured to and in fluid communication with said first end of said lower tube member, wherein said sweeper member includes a housing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposite side edges, defining a downwardly facing intake opening therebetween, wherein said lower tube member, said upper tube member, said handle member, and said sweeper member define a second operative configuration in which the vacuum cleaner accessory is designed primarily for cleaning floor level, horizontally accessible spaces.   
     
     
       6. A vacuum cleaner accessory according to claim 5, wherein said first post and said first sleeve member are closer to said lower tube member than are said second post and said second sleeve member, and a bumper member is positioned on said first sleeve member. 
     
     
       7. A vacuum cleaner accessory according to claim 6, wherein a detent pin is tethered to said handle member, and said detent pin is releasably secured in holes formed in said second sleeve member and said second post. 
     
     
       8. A vacuum cleaner accessory, of a type that attaches to a vacuum cleaner by means of a vacuum cleaner hose, comprising: (a) an upper tube member in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner hose; and   (b) an elongate lower tube member in fluid communication with said upper tube member and having a remote end defining an intake opening, wherein said lower tube member has a length of at least thirty-three (33) inches as measured between said upper tube member and said remote end, and said lower tube member has a thickness of approximately three-quarters (3/4) of an inch as measured between top and bottom surfaces thereof, and said intake opening is cut with an S-shape profile from said top surface to said bottom surface at a mean angle of between 30 and 70 degrees relative to said length.   
     
     
       9. A vacuum cleaner accessory according to claim 8, wherein downwardly curved teeth extend from said top surface at said intake opening, and said teeth define gaps therebetween. 
     
     
       10. A vacuum cleaner accessory according to claim 8, further comprising a transverse sweeper member releasably secured to and in fluid communication with said remote end of said lower tube member, wherein said transverse sweeper member includes a housing having a lead edge, a trail edge, and opposite side edges, defining a downwardly facing intake opening therebetween.